Beer Basics

Curious about the lingo? Learning what it means can help you better understand both beer styles and to choose a style that suits your palate. If you're new to craft beer, you can use the numbers to explore craft offerings, as an educated craft drinker.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

ABV is a standard measure that tells you how much kick to expect in your beer of choice. The percentage can fluctuate extensively in brews.

International Bitter Unit (IBU)

The IBU tells you how about a beer's bitterness. The higher the number, the more bitter the beer.

Hops

These are flowers from the hop plant. They add both stability and bitter, zesty or citric flavours.

Yeast

Brewer's yeast, is a one-celled organism that acts as the beer's fermentation engine.

Malt

Malt adds flavour and colour. Choose from barley, wheat, rye, oats, millet, sorghum, rice or corn, and then roast it or not.

Cans or bottles?

Bottles: Long shelf life. Looks real good.Cans: Mobile and recyclable. 100% light blockage.Six of one, half a dozen of the other.